Login, Sign Up, Register ect.

urbanmale · Jul 12, 2009

Should any of the above be on the homepage if so where and what's the optimum wording? I've been reading a thread about the need to register to shop on websites, given that customer details have to be gleaned in some form, and a facility needs to be in place to check order status, what's the best way of doing this without giving the impression that you have to register to shop. On my site I was thinking of burying it below the fold as a clickable link in the information area.

The conversion rate on my site is fairly low, getting worse month on month, so I'm trying to improve the situation by doing small tweaks, I know the 0845 number is a no no, so that's being changed soon, I've also just moved onto a new web host, the site now loads faster but since then again things have gotten worse, it can't just be the economy, surely.

If you need to find my site quickly, one of my main keyphrases "drunknmunky clothing" are no's 1 & 2 on Google.

Steve

J-Wholesale · Jul 12, 2009

If your conversion rate is already low, and falling, then the last thing you should do is force your users to open an account. This will drop your conversion rate lower still. If anything, I'd use your lack of registration as a selling point >> streamlined, one page check out, no need to register...

If your shipping arrangements are up to scratch, then users should never need to log in and check their order status, as the goods will arrive the next day. The main reason new businesses implement a registration system is for their own purposes. It's easier to track repeat business and such when users have an account. You should never make your customers life harder just to make your life easier.

cycloneuk · Jul 12, 2009

Do you not have an affiliate program Steve? if not then why not?

davidshaw89 · Jul 12, 2009

Place of design said:
like im going to type that in. Obsession with keyphrases needs an injection of reality me thinks

Don't post comments like this if you haven't read the post fully.

The OP gave this as a method of finding his web site should anyone wish to comment on it. He did not say "oh wow, look im number 2 on google!!!"

urbanmale · Jul 12, 2009

Many thanks J-Wholesale,

I don't have a one page checkout,far from it,but I'm looking at implementing either that (not sure if my cart is adaptable) or cutting the checkout process to the absolute minimum. I've always had some form of signup/login on the site as do most sites, would you say I should get rid of any mention entirely? as you say "express one page checkout no need to register" would be a great USP.

I need to get that 0845 phone number changed ASAP as I've noticed a downturn since that's been there.

Oh and congrats for being the only person to post relevant to the question

LOL

Steve

quikshop · Jul 13, 2009

You have this on your About Us page:

"We hope you'll love our raw, edgy collection of in your face clothing, that's hard to ignore, even harder to forget, and join the growing band of people who want to escape the shackles of the mass-produced."

Which is great copy but your website looks like an out-of-the-box osCommerce installation with very little in the design that suggests anything like raw or edgy.

Compare your shop to asos.com or bbclothing.co.uk as an example of two websites with engaging designs, both of which are instantly visually appealing regardless of whether the clothing is any good or not.

Your website is not very engaging compared to your competition, I do honestly think that your time would be better spent at this stage redesigning your shop to reflect the raw and edgy theme that you want.

urbanmale · Jul 13, 2009

Hi Dave,

I agree with everything you say, the reason it looks like an "out-of-the-box osCommerce installation" is because it is.

Asos has always been a site I've aspired to but unfortunately custom built websites costing 5k and up are not in the realm of possibility at this stage (I have no web design or development skills myself)

I'm only a small start up business but there must be someway to get things off the ground, I'm sure ASOS didn't start out with that amazing, custom built, 50k website.

Steve

urbanmale · Jul 13, 2009

PS.
Love the "Boxing Power" website in your portfolio, that's "raw and edgy"

Steve

quikshop · Jul 13, 2009

urbanmale said:
I'm only a small start up business but there must be someway to get things off the ground, I'm sure ASOS didn't start out with that amazing, custom built, 50k website.

A uniquely designed and professional website doesn't need to cost 50k or even 5k. I'm sure if you put a request in the Tenders thread on this forum you'd get a good selection of bidders at less than £1k.

On this and earlier posts you've identified various issues that could do with changing but unless the fundamental issue, i.e. how appealing your website is to visitors is addressed, your conversation rate is never going to be that great.

Just as an example of the type of impact it can have, we re-designed a martial arts website about 5 months ago and its conversion rate went from 0.5% - 1.5% up to 4.5% - 5.5%. Its made a huge difference and has already more than paid for the cost of the design work in terms of more sales.

urbanmale · Jul 13, 2009

I hear what you're saying and know it's true so that's definately going to have to be sorted, the site at the moment looks very staid, the boxing site on your portfolio really jumps out at you, there's a martial arts one too which looks very cool.

I've had a lot of trouble with hosting in the last 2 months which has now been sorted, and the site is currently being moved off of Zencart onto C.R.E Loaded so I guess the next priority is a redesign.

Steve

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